Electric signal.



I G. E. EILfIoN. ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JULY-2l 1902- v 8 Y if 0 2 E@ i EATENTED JUNE 3o, 1903-.,

UNITED STATES Patented June 30,k 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

-ELECTRIC SIGNAL.

SPIECIFIGATIONhforming part of Letters Patent'No. 732,559, dated June 30, 1903.

' v.Application led July 21, 1902.

To a/ZZ whom/25 jmayA concern:

Be it known that' lI, GEORGE F. HILTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at St.

Augustine, in the county of Knox and State" of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals; and I d declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to electric signals of the audible type and more especially intended for use oil-railways, at crossings thereof, to notify persons of the approach of a train.

4'Ihe object of the invention is to provide a signal of this character which shall be simple of construction, durable in use, comparatively inexpensive of production, and efficient in action.

With this and other objects in view the.P

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement Y of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully l 8 terminates in a transverse passage or opening 11 in the web of the rail. The circuit-wire 5 is electrically connected to the rail, and the circuit-wire 4 is led along the side of the rail to that point where it is desired to complete the circuit and `has its endconnected. to a contact plate or button 13, which lies in the opening or passage 11 and is completely insulated from the rail. A portion of the upper face of said plate is not insulated, vso that'tlie circuit-closer 14 may contact with'it to coinplcte the electrical-circuit. The circuit-closer 14 is in the form of a stem 15, that projects down through the bore and is adapted to engage the bare or exposed portion of the plate 13 .and is provided with a head 16,which has a free Serial No. 116,343. (No model.)

Y sliding movement in the socket 7 and is held normally above the tread of the rail by a coiled spring 18. This spring 18 is coiled about the' stem and is confined between the shoulder 9 andthe head of the stem. A bow-spring 10 vis'located in the passage 11 below the plate 13 to hold said plate elevated and prevent the battering of the lower end of the circuit-closer upon the plate when the saine is operated. The wheels of the train engaging the head of the stem will depress the same until it is iiush with the tread of the rail, thus forcing the lower end of the-stem into contact with the exposed end of the plate 13 and completing the circuit through the'wire 4, the stem, the spring, the rail, the wire 5, and the bell, thus sounding the alarm. The stem 15 may be made to carry the current directlyfrom it to the rail ifsaid stem fits the bore to a nicety. The spring is preferably'added as a safeguard,4 so as to insure an electrical connection, and in order to limit the upward movementof the' stem under the stress of the spring I insert a gitudiual aperture 21 formed in said stem.

Freni the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, lmode of operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring an extended eX- planation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and details of construction may be made parting from the spirit or sacrificing any of4 the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-,-

1. The combination with a battery-signal and circuit-wires, of a railroad-rail having formed in its tread a socket which communicates with an alined bore, one of said wires being connected direct to said rail and the other wire insulated from the rail and led into the bore, a stem for closing said circuit when depressed and having a vertical 'movement in said bore andv provided with a' head which niov'es in said socket, a spring confined pin 10 transversely through anaperture 20 formed in the web of the-rail vto engage a lonwithin the scope of the invention without de-l between the head of the stem and the base IOO of` theisoekehand mean foi limiting thel up- 'Ward :mm/Temen,tuoi` said stem, substantially catevbhjan yahmed hormone of-said wires betweexithe head of the Stem and the base l of the socket, and means for limiting the-up- Ward movement of said stem, said means comprising aslot and pin, the former'formed n the stem andthe 'latter extending ti'ansverselythrough the web ofthe rail and through the slot, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand in presence of two fsubscribing wit- 

